Portland Couple Stole Dozens of Funeral Urns
Two suspects allegedly raided a local mausoleum in June 2026 to trade stolen memorial items for drug money.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Property Crime
In June 2026, staff at Portland's Wilhelm's Memorial Funeral Home discovered that approximately 60 urns and 16 copper plates had been stolen from the facility's Daisy Room. Police identified a local couple as suspects in the investigation.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the vulnerability of memorial sites to theft, as suspects allegedly exploited visitation access to pilfer remains and metal plaques to fund drug purchases. The case has caused significant distress for families whose loved ones' final resting places were desecrated.
Timothy James Newbury, 50, is in custody at Multnomah County Jail on a charge of abusing a memorial to the dead. A warrant remains active for co-defendant Sierra Kennedy, who faces the same charge.
The players
Timothy James Newbury
He is a 50-year-old suspect currently held in the Multnomah County Jail on charges related to the desecration of a memorial.
Sierra Kennedy
She is a co-defendant in the theft case with an active arrest warrant issued in August 2026.
Wilhelm's Memorial Funeral Home
This Portland-based facility is the site where the urns and copper plates were reported missing.
The details
The suspects allegedly gained entry to the mausoleum by posing as visitors to a specific grave site. Police later executed a search warrant and recovered an urn, suspected human remains, and a name placard, while investigators believe the stolen metal goods were scrapped in North Portland.
Timeline
Late May 2026: Security observed suspects inside the mausoleum.
June 2026: Police began their investigation and served a search warrant.
August 11, 2026: An arrest warrant was issued for Sierra Kennedy.
September 3, 2026: Police arrested Timothy Newbury.
September 4, 2026: Timothy Newbury was arraigned in court.
Legal Context
The charges filed against the suspects follow the specific legal standards established by Oregon Revised Statute 166.076 regarding the protection of funeral sites. This case reflects ongoing efforts in the jurisdiction to prosecute crimes involving the disturbance of human remains.
The incident has prompted local funeral homes to review their security access protocols and visitor verification processes. Residents with loved ones interred at the facility are encouraged to contact staff to confirm the status of their memorial markers.
The takeaway
Families impacted by the theft are navigating the sensitive process of verifying the recovery of remains. Security measures at public memorial sites serve as the primary barrier against similar opportunistic crimes driven by illicit market sales.
What happens next
Timothy Newbury has a final resolution conference hearing scheduled for Friday morning.
Further reading
For more information on local investigations, visit the Property Crime section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KATU.
